Every gardener longs for plants that have a long bloom period and require low maintenance.

But what exactly are the qualifications of a low-maintenance perennial? Drought tolerance should be high up on the list, along with disease and insect resistance. The plant should not need frequent dividing or take over the garden and it should survive with little care for at least four years.

There are many wonderful perennial plants on the market that can be labeled low-maintenance. When considering the addition of some new perennials, determine whether the location is sunny or shady most of the day, and pick plants that are suitable to your site. Prepare the bed well by removing any weeds and adding lots of compost.

Sun- loving Baptisia “Twilite Prairie Blues,” also known as Wild Indigo plant, is a member of the pea family, with lupine-like purple flowers suitable as a cut flower.

Reaching 40 inches in height, they are extremely long-lived and vigorous, with lovely blue-green foliage that stays attractive all summer, even when the flowers have faded. Plant them along a wall or fence in the back of a border with other June bloomers such as Achillia, Rose, Aquilegia or geraniums.

NEW PEONIES

New to the market, and a bit pricey, are the Intersectional Peonies, a cross between the herbaceous garden type and the woody tree type, whose flowers are upright and never need staking, even after a heavy rain.

Intersectional Peony “Morning Lilac,” with a fragrant, purple blossom that is incredibly floriferous, will do well in full sun or partial shade.

Heuchera “Hercules,” commonly known as Coral Bells, could be grown for its fantastic foliage alone, but it also produces deep, scarlet red flowers. Easy to grow, with leaves that are heavily marbled green and cream, this plant will produce the strongest color when grown in partial shade.

Suitable for the rock garden, as an edging along a path, or in a container, this heuchera will form an eye-catching 10- to 15-inch mound, from spring until fall.

SHASTA DAISY

Shasta Daisy “Becky,” the Perennial Plant of the Year in 2003, has bright white flowers on sturdy stems that never need staking, as well as a long season of bloom. Whether planted in full sun or partial shade, the 3-inch round flowers with yellow centers will appear at the end of June and continue through August.

Tiarella “Sugar and Spice,” also known as Foamflower, is a fragrant groundcover with colorful evergreen foliage laced with rich chocolate veins. Perfect in a shady location, this perennial can tolerate dry shade once established and is also a good container plant.

Purple Poppy Mallow is a rare native plant suitable for a hot south- or west-facing garden, producing wine-red flowers from June through September. If you’re looking for a drought-tolerant, easy-to-grow groundcover, or a plant to hang over a wall and have cascade downward, this is a good choice.

A great choice for sunny, well-drained beds and borders is Sedum “Diamond Edge,” a variegated cultivar with dark green and purple leaves accented by a yellow margin. Reaching 15 to 18 inches in height, the mostly pink blossoms last from July through October.

*** GARDEN NOTES

First District Federated Garden Clubs of New York State is hosting a standard flower show, “Staten Island – 350 Years,” at New Dorp Moravian Church, 2205 Richmond Rd., Saturday, May 21, from 1-5 p.m. The show is open to the public and admission is free.</tail>Lee Gugliada is past president of the Great Kills Garden Club and past director of First District Federated Garden Clubs of New York State.